Apparatus for colonic lavage and specimen collection

Abstract

A unit including mechanisms and instrumentation for precision, temperature and pressure control of water which is directed through a speculum that continuously irrigates a patient's colon and drains the water along with extracted matter through an illuminated viewing chamber provided in the unit. The unit also includes an oxygen pressure regulator and a special mixing manifold by which the oxygen or other medicinal fluids may be optionally introduced into the water, and a device by which a specimen of extracted matter may be optionally retained for subsequent laboratory analysis.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for colonic lavage comprising: (a) a water mixing valve for receiving hot and cold water under pressure and mixing them to arrive at a desired temperature, said mixing valve having an outlet port;   (b) water pressure regulating valve means coupled to the outlet port of said water mixing valve for receiving water therefrom, said water pressure regulating valve means having an outlet and including first valve means for limiting the maximum pressure of the water at its outlet and second valve means for adjusting the water pressure to specific valves below that maximum limit;   (c) a water temperature gage coupled to the outlet of said water pressure regulating valve means to provide a visual indication of the water temperature;   (d) a water pressure gage coupled to the outlet of said water pressure regulating valve means to provide a visual indication of the water pressure at the outlet of said water pressure regulating valve means;   (e) a speculum for insertion into the anal canal of a patient for lavaging the patient's colon and extracting matter lodged therein; and   (f) manifold means connected between the outlet of said water pressure regulating valve means and said speculum for delivering water to said speculum and for receiving the extracted matter therefrom, said manifold means having a discharge port through which the extracted matter passes.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said water pressure regulating valve means comprises: (a) said first valve means for limiting the maximum pressure of the water is a flow limiting valve set to allow a maximum flow of water therethrough, said flow limiting valve having an inlet port and an outlet port with that outlet port being the outlet of said water pressure regulating valve means; and   (b) said second valve means for adjusting the water pressure to specific valves below the maximum limit is an adjustable flow control valve having an inlet port which is connected to the outlet port of said water mixing valve and having an outlet port which is connected to the inlet port of said flow limiting valve.   
     
     
       3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said water pressure regulating valve means comprises: (a) said first valve means for limiting the maximum pressure of the water is a pressure relief valve set to open when the water pressure exceeds a predetermined value, said pressure relief valve having an inlet port and an outlet port;   (b) a tee having an inlet port and a pair of outlet ports one of which is connected to the inlet port of said pressure relief valve and the other of which is the outlet of said water pressure regulating valve means;   (c) said second valve means for adjusting the water pressure to specific values below the maximum limit is an adjustable flow control valve having an inlet port which is coupled to the outlet port of said water mixing valve and having an outlet port which is coupled to the inlet port of said tee; and   (d) bypass means connected to the outlet port of said pressure relief valve for receiving the water which passes therethrough when said pressure relief valve is open.   
     
     
       4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said manifold means comprises: (a) a mixing housing having an internal cavity, said mixing housing having a first inlet port which is coupled to the outlet of said water pressure regulating valve means for receiving water therefrom and directing that water into the internal cavity; and   (b) a tubular housing attached to said mixing housing with a passage communicating between the internal cavity of said mixing housing and the bore of said tubular housing, one end of said tubular housing being a port which is coupled to said speculum and the other end being the discharge port through which the extracted matter received from said speculum passes.   
     
     
       5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said mixing housing is further provided with a second inlet port for admitting an auxiliary fluid medium to the internal cavity of said mixing housing when an auxiliary fluid medium is supplied to said second inlet port. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 and further comprising an oxygen pressure regulator and shutoff valve having an inlet port for receiving oxygen under pressure from an external source, said oxygen pressure regulator and shutoff valve having an outlet port and adapted for optionally delivering oxygen at a regulated pressure to that outlet port, the outlet port of said oxygen pressure regulator and shutoff valve being connectable to the second inlet port of said mixing housing. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: (a) a cabinet having a front panel in which an opening is formed;   (b) a viewing chamber mounted in said cabinet immediately behind the opening formed in the front panel thereof;   (c) means in said cabinet for illuminating said viewing chamber; and   (d) a transparent sight tube mounted in said cabinet so as to pass through said viewing chamber, said transparent sight tube having an inlet end which is coupled to the discharge port of said manifold means for receiving the extracted matter therefrom.   
     
     
       8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a drain shutoff valve having an inlet end which is coupled to the discharge port of said manifold means for receiving the extracted matter therefrom. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a specimen collection means coupled to the discharge port of said manifold means for optionally collecting a specimen of the extracted matter. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: (a) a cabinet having a front panel in which an opening is formed;   (b) a viewing chamber mounted in said cabinet immediately behind the opening formed in the front panel thereof;   (c) means in said cabinet for illuminating said viewing chamber;   (d) a transparent sight tube mounted in said cabinet so as to pass through said viewing chamber, said transparent sight tube having an inlet end and an outlet end with that inlet end coupled to the discharge port of said manifold means for receiving the extracted matter therefrom;   (e) a drain shutoff valve having an inlet port and an outlet port with that inlet port being coupled to the outlet end of said transparent sight tube for receiving the extracted matter therefrom; and   (f) a specimen collection means coupled to the outlet port of said drain shutoff valve, said specimen collection means being operable to optionally collect a specimen of the extracted matter received from said drain shutoff valve.   
     
     
       11. An apparatus for colonic lavage comprising: (a) a cabinet having a front panel;   (b) a water mixing valve for receiving hot and cold water under pressure and mixing them to arrive at a desired temperature, said mixing valve mounted in the front panel and having an outlet port;   (c) water pressure regulating valve means coupled to the outlet port of said water mixing valve for receiving water therefrom, said water pressure regulating valve means having an outlet and including first valve means contained within said cabinet for limiting the maximum pressure of the water and a second valve means mounted in the front panel of said cabinet for adjusting the water pressure at various valves below that maximum limit;   (d) a water temperature gage coupled to the outlet of said water pressure regulating valve means to provide a visual indication of the water temperature, said water temperature gage mounted in the front panel of said cabinet;   (e) a water pressure gage coupled to the outlet of said water pressure regulating valve means to provide a visual indication of the water pressure at the outlet of said water pressure regulating valve means, said water pressure gage mounted in the front panel of said cabinet;   (f) a speculum for insertion into the anal canal of a patient for lavaging that patient's colon and extracting matter lodged therein; and   (g) manifold means connected between the outlet of said water pressure regulating valve means and said speculum for delivering water to said speculum and for receiving the extracted matter therefrom, said manifold means having a discharge port through which the extracted matter passes.   
     
     
       12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said water pressure regulating valve means comprises: (a) said first valve means for limiting the maximum pressure of the water is a flow limiting valve set to allow a maximum rate of water flow therethrough, said flow limiting valve having an inlet port and an outlet port with that outlet port being the outlet of said water pressure regulating valve means; and   (b) said second valve means for adjusting the water pressure to various values is an adjustable flow control valve having an inlet port which is connected to the outlet port of said water mixing valve and having an outlet port which is connected to the inlet port of said flow limiting valve.   
     
     
       13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said water pressure regulating valve means comprises: (a) said first valve means for limiting the maximum pressure of the water is a pressure relief valve set to open when the water pressure exceeds a predetermined value, said pressure relief valve having an inlet port and an outlet port;   (b) a tee having an inlet port and a pair of outlet ports one of which is connected to the inlet port of said pressure relief valve and the other being the outlet of said water pressure regulating valve means;   (c) said second valve means for adjusting the water pressure at various values is an adjustable flow control valve having an inlet port which is coupled to the outlet port of said water mixing valve and having an outlet port which is coupled to the inlet port of said tee; and   (d) bypass means connected to the outlet port of said pressure relief valve for receiving the water which passes therethrough when said pressure relief valve is open.   
     
     
       14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said manifold means comprises: (a) a mixing housing having an internal cavity and a first inlet port which is coupled to the outlet of said water pressure regulating valve means for receiving water therefrom and directing it into the internal cavity; and   (b) a tubular housing attached to said mixing housing with a passage communicating between the internal cavity of said mixing housing and the bore of said tubular housing, one end of said tubular housing being a port which is coupled to said speculum and the other end is the discharge port.   
     
     
       15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said mixing housing is further provided with a second inlet port for admitting an auxiliary fluid medium to the internal cavity of said mixing housing when an auxiliary fluid medium is supplied to the second inlet port. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 and further comprising an oxygen pressure regulator and shutoff valve mounted on the front panel of said cabinet, said oxygen pressure regulator and shutoff valve having an inlet port for receiving oxygen under pressure from a remote source and having an outlet port, said oxygen pressure regulator and shutoff valve adapted for optionally delivering oxygen at a regulated pressure to the outlet port thereof with that outlet port being connectable to the second inlet port of said mixing housing. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 and further comprising: (a) said front panel of said cabinet having an opening formed therethrough;   (b) a viewing chamber in said cabinet immediately behind the opening formed in the front panel thereof;   (c) means in said cabinet for illuminating said viewing chamber; and   (d) a transparent sight tube mounted in said cabinet so as to pass through said viewing chamber, said transparent sight tube having an inlet end and an outlet end with that inlet end being coupled to the discharge port of said manifold means for receiving the extracted matter therefrom.   
     
     
       18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 and further comprising a drain shutoff valve mounted in said cabinet and having an inlet port and an outlet port with that inlet port being coupled to the discharge port of said manifold means. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 and further comprising a specimen collection means coupled to the discharge port of said manifold means for optional collection of a specimen of the extracted matter. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 and further comprising: (a) said cabinet having an opening formed through the front panel thereof;   (b) a viewing chamber in said cabinet immediately behind the opening formed through the front panel thereof;   (c) means in said cabinet for illuminating said viewing chamber;   (d) a transparent sight tube mounted in said cabinet and disposed to pass through said viewing chamber, said transparent sight tube having an inlet end and an outlet end with that inlet end being coupled to the discharge port of said manifold means for receiving the extracted matter therefrom;   (e) a drain shutoff valve mounted in said cabinet and having an inlet port and an outlet port with that inlet port being coupled to the outlet end of said transparent sight tube for receiving the extracted matter therefrom; and   (f) a specimen collection means coupled to the outlet port of said drain shutoff valve, said specimen collection means being operable for optional collection of a specimen of the extracted matter received from said drain shutoff valve.   
     
     
       21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said viewing chamber comprises: (a) a transparent sheet affixed to the front panel of said cabinet to cover the opening formed therethrough;   (b) a translucent panel of arcuate cross section within said cabinet adjacent said transparent sheet; and   (c) bracket means for mounting said translucent panel to the inwardly facing surface of the front panel of said cabinet.   
     
     
       22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said specimen collection means comprises: (a) a flow diverting valve having an inlet end connected to the outlet port of said drain shutoff valve for receiving the extracted matter therefrom and having an outlet end and a diversion branch, said flow diverting valve being manually operable from a first position which places the inlet end in direct communication with the outlet end to a second position which places the inlet end in communication with the diversion branch;   (b) a housing connected to the diversion branch of said flow diverting valve and having a downwardly opening bore formed therein;   (c) a specimen container demountably connected to the open bore of said housing; and   (d) an overflow pipe connected between said housing and the outlet end of said flow diverting valve.